Bribie Island Orchid Society

Committee Meeting

Held on the second Tuesday of the month (11^th Nov.) at the Bribie Island Bowls Club on Welsby Parade Bongaree & commencing at 1 pm.

 

Cultural Meeting

Held on the fourth Tuesday of the month (28th Oct ) at the Ningi community hall on Bribie Island Rd. The meeting begins at 1.30 pm. The guest speaker will be B & R Gardens folk. 

 

New Growers’ Meeting

Held on the last Saturday of the month (25^th Oct ) at the Church of Christ hall on the corner of Foley St & Fifth Ave. the guest speaker is Bev Hopgood.

 

Diary Dates

Oct 18/19 - Boonah OS show & incorporating the 2^nd Qld Sarcochilus festival at Boonah High School in Macquarie St.

Nov 1- Gympie OS is holding a bus trip to the Gold Coast - Tweed Annual Orchid Fair at the Tweed Civic Centre. They are leaving Gympie at 6 am & picking up from various societies along the way. Around 7.30am at Bribie turn off. Cost is app $30 for a large bus. Please contact our secretary Lynn if you are interested.

Nov 7/9 - Pumicestone & District O & FS show at Ningi community hall on Bribie Island Rd. We display.

Nov 15 - BIOS bus trip to celebrate “Red November” on the Granite Belt. (see bus trips)

Dec 16 - BIOS Christmas party at Bribie RSL commencing at noon. Cost is $20 for members & $25 for non members. Please give names to Val Anderson & money to the treasurer.

 

Sept – Oct 2009 An Orchid Lovers Tour of Borneo & hosted by Wayne Harris.

Contact Editor Joan for details.

 

If a pig loses its voice is it disgruntled?

 

Jude’s Jottings

October Orchid Bonanza Raffle Winners; 

Major prize; Towel set won by Mrs Egan of Bongaree

Fertilizer Pack won by Judy Robins

Box of Orchids won by J. Jamieson

 

NOTICE;  Members; The Society has received a letter from the Bribie Island and District Community Hospice asking for donations for their silent auction to be held at their Christmas Dinner on Dec. 5th. I do know they would really appreciate an orchid in flower.  If you wish to donate one please contact me.  Judy . (President)

 

Yes, Ken and I had a good holiday on Fraser, but here’s THIS FISHERWOMANS LAMENT:

I waved that rod all over the place.  I practiced till I was blue in the face.

But still couldn’t get that blasted hook and line out into the middle of the gutter.

 

WOH!!  WHAT A SHOW!!

Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.  Congratulations to all the winners. Ladies, thank you for all those beautiful floral arrangements - great work. THANK YOU to all of our members who helped throughout the weekend. Take a bow - you deserve it.

 Now folk, we can relax a little.  Enjoy.            Judy.

 

September Cultural Meeting

The benches were weighed down with all the orchids on display, a good prelude to our show. The good quality society shirts are again available from Florence BUT I am not sure of the cost. From now on the bulletin will either be posted or emailed to our members. The raffle was won by S Knight who took the fruit tray while G Strickland was lucky to get the beautiful Phalie donated by G & G McKay & D Haupt won third prize. Dr Graham McKay was our guest speaker with his beautiful Phalaenopsis orchids. The notes from his talk begin on p. 3.

The judges were L Ratcliffe, M Wheeler, John Hopgood & trainee judge J Stokes. B Hopgood was the scribe.

 

Cattleya
Exhibition	C. Lynn Spencer	W & J Corney	J & J Stokes
Novelty	Slc. Teacher’s Pet	M & L Hauck	I & F McLaren	J & J Stokes
Cluster	Ctna. Brandi ’OC’	D & M Neldner	I & F McLaren	I & F McLaren
Species	C.intermedia var. amethystina	M & V Anderson	D & M Neldner	I & F McLaren
Dendrobium
Species	Den. farmeri	D & M Neldner	B & M Elliott	J & J Stokes
Any other	Den. White Cloud	W & J Corney	I & F McLaren	S Maller
Vandaceous
Under 60 mms	Ascda. Suk Sumran ‘Sunlight’	D & M Neldner	A Pecci
Any other	Lsa. Recurva var. lilacina	M & V Anderson
Phalaenopsis
Species	Phal. stuartiana	M & F Wheeler
Any type	Phal. Matthew Spats	M & F Wheeler	J & B Hopgood	M & F Wheeler
Paphiopedilum
Any type	Paph. Delophyllum	M & F Wheeler
Species	Paph.	M & F Wheeler
Oncidium
Onc. alliance	Onc. Issaku Nagata	I & F McLaren	D & M Neldner	D & M Neldner
Cymbidium
Any type	Cym. Nonna	M & V Anderson	D & M Neldner	D & M Neldner
Aust. Natives
Species	Cym. canaliculatum	J & J Stokes	J & B Hopgood
Any hybrid	Den. Kingrose	J & J Stokes	M & J Venz	J & J Stokes
Terrestrial	Phaius wallichii	W & J Corney	J & J Stokes	M & J Venz
Novice
Any type hybrid	Den. Gion ‘Pink Lady’	J & G Watson	J & G Watson
Foliage
Fern	Adiantum	A Pecci	D & M Neldner	G & J Watson
Foliage	Dieffenbachia	D & M Neldner	W & J Corney	D & M Neldner
Bromeliad	Tillandsia Giric	S Maller	M & V Anderson	I & F McLaren
Anthurium		D & M Neldner	D & M Neldner	D & M Neldner

 

Popular Vote

Orchid - Phaius wallichii owned by W & J Corney

Foliage - TillandsiaGiric owned by S Maller

Novice of the Month - G & J Watson with their plant Den. Gion ‘Pink Lady’

Judges’ choice was Phal. stuartiana owned by M & F Wheeler

 

Notes from the Benches

Blc. Jeremy Island x Pot. Sally Taylor  =  Pot. Hawaiian Option

Paph. Dr Jack x delenatii  =  Paph. Jack Fowlie

 

If your feet smell & your nose runs then you’re built upside down.

 

 

Recognition Award

Every Year on October 1^st the United Nations’ celebrates the International Day of Older Persons. This gives the community the opportunity to recognize the contributions older Australians make through their work, their skills and by sharing their experiences. This year Jon Sullivan, Federal Member for Longman presented Val and Mervyn Anderson, who were nominated by the Executive Committee of the Society, with an “Recognition Award 2008” for their significant contribution during the past year. Jon noted that “folk like these are not only the backbone of the Society but of the wider community and it was gratifying to see so many local associations represented at the ceremony and receiving like awards”. Val and Merv were most surprised when their names were called for the presentation as they thought they were accompanying President Judy and Secretary Lynn to a Morning Tea at the Longman Office at Morayfield as representatives of our Society. Congratulations from all of us, Val and Merv.

Thank you Lynn for this great news.

 

New Growers’ Report

Special thanks to Merv and Val Anderson for leading the New Growers meeting on 27^th September in the absence of Don and Margaret Neldner. Several factors combined to limit the attendance to 14, but they were not disappointed. Ron Powell, our botanical adviser, gave a detailed account of his knowledge of native orchids on Bribie Island. He was able to pass round much of his research evidence in detailed notes. Thank you, Ron.

At our next meeting on 25^th October we will be informed of the variety of Orchids with Fragrances. Bev Hopgood has prepared a talk on this topic.

At the November meeting, our Christmas Breakup, there will be a rolling raffle. All are encouraged to bring a gift for the raffle, something that you yourself would be happy to win. Not necessarily orchids or plants, but any item suitable as a gift and nicely wrapped. It should be a fun day and a fitting climax to our year.

Don & Margaret Neldner, Coordinators.

 

Bribie Orchids by Ron Powell

Cymbidium Madidum

Cymbidium – from Greek - Itymbe – a small boat – because of the shape of labellum

Described by John Lindley 1790 – 1863
Flowers – Spring to Summer – green – brown flowers on 60cm racemes

On Bribie Island restricted to the northern National Park areas. Lost to southern end through land clearing resulting in the loss of mature eucalyptus with hollows.
In National Park found growing in stumps and a fallen log.
Seeds germinate in the broken down timber from the centre of trees and hollow stumps etc.
This orchid can be seen growing in trees on the mainland.
“Cymbidium Madidum” grows in rainforest situations also littorial rainforest.
This orchid is probably reliant on native bees for pollination.
Aboriginal use for this orchid, pseudo bulbs used for food and dysentery. Fruit also used.

 

Spiranthes Sinensis

Named by L Richard 1818 – more than 300 species in genus – occurs every country except Africa

The name from Greek – ‘speira’ a screw and ‘anthos’ a flower

In Australia Spiranthes Sinensis occurs in all states except Western Australia. Also in New Zealand.

On Bribie Island Spiranthes grows in damp areas in peaty sand close to the zones of Wallum and open woodland country.

Prefers a high water table below.

Once a very common orchid seen on Bribie growing on footpaths (damp situations) and in yards. I had this specie in my yard when I bought the land in 1969 -also Geodorum . With dry conditions only the Geodorum survives now.

Also in grassland close to creeks.

Possible pollination by Meadow Argus Butterfly (Precis Villida Calybe).

 

Microtis Unifolia (Onion Orchid)

Described by Robert Brown in 1810

Micros from Greek – Mitros - small and Ous – an ear

Found on Bribie in damp areas in woodlands and grasslands. Growing in small colonies in the grass.

Spikes appear through a split in the side of a hollow.

Onion like leaf with up to 50 tiny green flowers. Stem is 15 inches.

These tiny flowers need a hand lens for viewing. Some petals almost a shiny emerald green

Aboriginal use – tubers eaten

Flowering October – December

Possibly pollinated by flies, ants, beetles and small wasps.

 

Glossodia Minor

(Small Wax Lip Orchid)

From Glossa – a tongue and Odus – a tooth

Named by Robert Brown 1810

Flowering time winter – July to August

Plant growing to 4 inches

Found fringes of heathland and forest borders, in grassland and leaf mould – forming colonies.

Prefers damp conditions from heathlands to open forest in broken light.

Prefers poor soils and sand.

Leaf short and narrow, green to pink in stems and bracts.

Aboriginal use – tubers eaten.

 

 

Phalaenopsis by Dr Graham McKay – Director I.P.A.

There are about 80 species found in nature. They are either saprophytic, (grow on trees), or lithophytic, (grow on rocks). They are found principally in S.E.Asia through the Philippines, Indonesia & through northern Australia.

 

Phalaenopsis is the most widely grown orchid in cultivation because of :

1. Ease of culture.
2. Floriferous.
3. Fast growing.
4. Colourful & excellent presentation.
5. Can be compact & easily transported.
6. Flowers can last for 3 months or longer.

 

Plants should be grown under covered 70% shade or generally less light. In winter, preferably sheltered cover or ideally hot house not less than 15º. When watering plants in winter it must be definitely ensured that plants, particularly the central crown, be dry before night time when the temperature drops. Therefore it is best to water on warm mornings, sunny days & possibly use fans to dry.

 

Air movement is important, (fans or convection), and humidity should not be less than about 70%

 

I am currently trialing growing in the following medium :

1. Coconut Husk (already PH adjusted).

2. Coconut Husk 2 : Foam 1.

3. Coconut Husk 2 : Bark 2 : Foam 1.